Yoga Instructor Resume Example & Template

The number of Americans practicing yoga has grown by 50% in four years. 

This means that Yoga Instructors are increasingly in demand. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for fitness instructors is growing at 15% -- which is considered to be much faster than average. And since Yoga Instructors practice a specialty type of fitness, they are even more desirable. 

So let’s create a stellar resume to help you land your dream job at that perfect yoga studio near you!

‍Yoga Instructor Sample Resume

Yoga Instructor, Homeward Bound Care Facility

• Teaches 40+ elderly clients basic yoga moves each day
• Holds 4 classes a day that differ in intensity, including beginner and intermediate
• Advises modifications for each yoga pose to ensure proper form and to meet clients' athletic abilities
• Instructs clients on breathing techniques, such as Basic Breath Awareness and Breath Retention
• Develops body-mind-spirit awareness, mental clarity and physical flexibility and strength

Stress Management Yoga Teacher, Eastern Connecticut State University

• Taught 50+ students each day on the practice of yoga
• Held bi-weekly meditation sessions and offered guidance throughout
• Planned 15 yoga classes per week for beginner to advanced levels
• Incorporated stress management techniques focused on breathing and centering the self
• Maintained therapeutic relationships with students to encourage attendance
• Offered health and wellness information upon request
• Communicated course offerings via promotional materials and social media presence
• Managed a budget of $2,000 per month
• Improved class retention by 18%

Yoga Instructor, BareFoot Yoga Studio

• Planned and instructed 30+ yoga classes per month, including Vinyasa and Hot Yoga
• Created a relaxing studio space by taking care of lighting and room arrangements
• Taught clients how to safely get into poses
• Instructed clients on breathing techniques
• Shared positive messages each day, such as a daily quote to create a welcoming atmosphere
• Shared the knowledge of yoga and helped to resolve any doubts regarding physical and spiritual aspects of the practice
• Supported clients' postures to help them avoid any injuries
• Marketed the studio through social media, improving attendance by 15%

1. Choose the Right Format for a Yoga Instructor Resume

The first step to drafting your resume is deciding which resume format to use. This depends on your career experience and skillset. 

You have 3 main options for resume:

1. Reverse-Chronological -- this is the most commonly used resume format. With this structure, place your most recent jobs first, followed by the next most recent job, and ending with your oldest position. 

However, it’s important to include only jobs relevant to the position to which you’re applying, so leave out any former jobs that don’t fit. 

2. Functional -- this format is best for people who have been out of the workforce for a while, perhaps because they had to care for children or an elderly parent. This format lists your specific skills and qualifications. 

Have headers like “Customer Service” and “Administrative Support” with their respective skills listed in bullet points below. At the very end, include a brief snapshot of your work experience.  

3. Hybrid / Combination -- this format is a mix of both Functional and Reverse-Chronological. It provides more detailed work experience descriptions that would typically be seen in the latter, while still offering a bulleted list of skills.  

Tip: When in doubt, choose the Reverse-Chronological resume format. 

For Yoga Instructors, hiring managers want to glance at your resume and get a sense of the following:

• Your qualifications and training. Being a Yoga Instructor requires an intensive training process, so be sure to list the program you’re accredited by. 
• You have experience. Even if you haven’t formally taught in a studio, hold a free class in a park or at a friend’s party -- anything to start building your portfolio.  
• Customer service skills

The best format for a Yoga Instructor to demonstrate all of these points is by using the Reverse-Chronological resume format, since studios want to see your former work experience. 

2. Write a strong Yoga Instructor resume summary

Studio owners scan your resume summary section in about 3 seconds. 

This means you need a catchy summary in order to keep the studio owners reading!

But first, what is a resume summary?

A resume summary is one or two sentences at the top of your paper that summarizes your entire resume. It’s the punch line that gets the resume reviewer wanting to know more. 

Tip: only include information that is relevant to the job. You wouldn’t mention your lawyer skills if you’re applying for an instructor position at a yoga studio.

For a Yoga Instructor, include the following points in your summary

• Years of experience
• The name of your certification 
• An adjective or two about your skills and attitude -- do you excel at putting clients at ease? Do you incorporate upbeat music into your flows? 

Here is an example of a bad resume summary: Experienced, passionate yoga instructor. 

Here is an example of a good resume summary: 12 years of experience teaching geriatric clients. Passionate about helping clients strengthen their bodies for functional living while receiving the relaxation benefits of yoga.  

For more information, checkout our guide on writing a killer resume summary.

3. Describe your work experience as a Yoga Instructor

The next step to drafting your resume is to list your work experience. This includes the name of your position (e.g., Senior Yoga Instructor, Apprentice), the name of the location at which you worked, and the time period in which you worked. 

Furthermore, write your resume experience in a way that anyone in your industry will understand. Don't use company-specific language. 

For example, let’s say you worked at a Yoga studio that called yoga mats “fitness rollout liners.” This isn’t a common term, so don’t use it in your resume otherwise your reader may not understand it!

Yoga Instructor Skills 

• Knowledgeable of yoga terms
• Knowledgeable about modifications of yoga movements 
• Patient
• Energetic 
• Flexibility
• Knowledge of Anatomy 
• Breathing Techniques 
• Stress Management 
• Self-Motivation 
• CPR, First Aid

If you want to learn how to nail this section, read our guide on the proper way to include skills on your resume.

4. Include an Education Section 

Yoga Instructors do not require a formal education like a high school diploma or college degree. However, they do need to be certified through an accredited program. Yoga Alliance is one of the most popular and reputable organizations and is recognized internationally. There are a variety of Registered Yoga Schools allied with Yoga Alliance, so you can pick whichever ones fit your time and availability needs as well as any specialties you're pursuing. 

Generally, most yoga programs are at least 200 hours. They include classes on breathing techniques, anatomy and physiology, and, of course, yoga poses. 

The last step is to register as a yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance of America. You will then be listed in a global directory that affirms you are a certified yoga instructor. 

5. Mention Certifications Relevant to the job

Certifications will not only improve your own yoga abilities and knowledge base, but they also show hiring managers that you have more to offer. 

Many Yoga Instructors pursue certifications in specialties like Hot Yoga, Vinyasa, Iyengar, or Hatha yoga. This allows you to work for more studios and clients. 

For more information on certifications, check out our guide on how to include certifications on your resume the right way.

6. Pick the right template

Now it’s time for the fun part -- picking the aesthetics of your resume! 

Here at EasyResume, we offer 4 different templates. 

• Creative: these resumes are bold and colorful with eye-catching fonts to help you stand out from the crowd. This is best for those in creative fields like marketing and art. 
• Simple: these resumes follow a clear, straightforward format that highlight you and your experiences. This is best for those in fields that prefer austerity, such as the healthcare and finance industries. 
• Modern: these resumes have sleek designs that are fresh and bold with elegant fonts and clean lines. This is best for individuals applying to startups or to companies with a young audience or product.
• Professional: these resumes have a clean, crisp look that incorporates only one or two accent colors. The focus is solely on the text, pulling the recruiter into your experiences and accomplishments. This is best for individuals applying to straight-laced companies that mandate a suit-and-tie dress code. 

Your resume template should reflect the job to which you’re applying. If you want to work for an up and coming studio in a hipster neighborhood, try out a creative or modern template. Conversely, if you want to work for an upscale, old school studio, try out a professional or simple template. 

7. Takeaways

We’ve reached the end of the article! Now for the hard part, actually creating the resume. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

• Research the job description to locate keywords
• Use a Reverse-Chronological resume layout
• Write your resume summary, including your accredited program, specialties, and years of experience
• Include your education and relevant certifications
• Write your experience section in a way that any outsider could understand. Talk more about the how and why of your responsibilities. Quantify your results.
• Pick a resume template that fits the position to which you’re applying.

Start from one of our resume examples to save time.

Namaste and good luck!

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